XBLRadio ver 66.5 - “GTAIV Roundtable”

Hosts:

Guests This Week Include:

from cplusgamers.com from thegamersgarage.com

from platformnation.com from videogamejocks.com

Topics Include:

Grand Theft Auto 4 Gears and Gears 2 All this and more!

Thanks for listening, Please leave us a comment on the show or send us an e-mail at: xblradio@platformnation.com

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XBL Radio 66.0 (Speed Run)

Join me this week with a special guest host as we talk about.

++COD4 breaks DLC records

++GTA IV already causing controversy

++First album on Rock Band, Guitar Hero 4 more like Rock Band

++New Spider-man game

++Blitz 2

++Metal Gear Online Delayed

++Gears of War in Print

++GTA IV contest with Allgames.com

Unlock The Achievement
GTA IV contest

XBL Radio 66.0 (Speed Run)

 

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GTA IV: The make or break title for Rockstar.

What I’m going to talk about here today has nothing to do with EA attempting to buy out Take Two. With that said lets get into the meat and potatoes of today’s topic. Why is Grand Theft Auto IV the make or break game of the series?

I’ll start by stating it may suffer from the Halo 2 problem. The Halo 2 problem is when the IP does not meet the fan expectation for the game, or the competition raised the bar higher than anticipated. With more and more developers entering the ever-expanding sandbox genre, more quality titles are being released each year. Games like Crackdown changed the way we want to play these games, by adding free roaming co-op. Prototype, the upcoming Free Radical title gives you the powers from Crackdown with the atmosphere of GTA 3. The point being the bar has been set higher than ever before, and is still climbing.

Marketing cannot purchase the hearts and minds of the gaming community. Halo 3 suffered from the negative perception left by Halo 2. The weak story combined with better shooters (i.e. Call of Duty 4) is what pulled Halo 3 from the top spot on Xbox Live. The last 3 console releases of GTA were all based on the GTA 3 engine. While the improvements were seen from game to game, they always suffered from the same problems. Pop in, aiming, etc. For GTA IV to truly excel it has to exceed all expectations, it has to innovate gameplay and change how we play. I’m afraid if GTA IV does not revolutionize the genre, then the Grand Theft Auto name, Rockstar, and Take Two will be left broken and unemployed.

As gamers we expect the best no matter when “your” game was first conceived. We always want the shiniest feature in all games at all times. Halo 3 has its faults but we can agree saved films are needed in all multiplayer games now. A feature that would take months to create and implement must be used to the fullest potential on a game releasing the very next week. GTA IV needs to see the implementation of multiplayer built into the single player campaign. It needs to fix the faults of the previous games, and it must absolutely keep sacred what made the games so addictive to begin with.

If it feels rushed, or a rehash of GTA 3; it will mark the beginning of the end. While it will take 1-2 more games to put the final nail in the coffin, we “hard-core” players will leave it on the shelf next to our copies of Sonic, Mortal Kombat, and the newest addition, Tony Hawk.

XBL Radio version 65.0 (Insanity at 3:00am)

Oh the humanity, X3R0 and Keman recording way too late for your own good. These too are a little “punch drunk” and way to limber to spoil some games for you. This week they cover.

Platformnation’s own Cooper Hawkes gets his own game

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Sam and Max hit console

Alone in the Dark

Too Human updates

The Rundown

Rants and Raves

Leave us feed back at xblradio@platformnation.com

Leave reviews on iTunes and join INFECTEDPB503 and MrB4 on Live on Live ver 65.5

 

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EA gets more from gamers with DLC.

EA has once again started rocking the boat with their money grab. This is the 5th time (by my count) EA has gone above and beyond to get any extra cash you have from Xbox Live Marketplace.

This current issue is from the BETA of Battlefield: Bad Company. EA is offering, for purchase, 10 extra weapons. They do say that this will not impact gameplay at all but is mearly an extra “skin” if you will. The extra weapons are intended for more variety. If they are there for variety that changes balance, if its not worth it, than why are you charging for it?

This bad habit was started about two years ago. We have seen this kinda of DLC from EA in Need For Speed: Carbon, Tiger Woods ‘07 & ‘08, and in the Godfather. All of the items for “sale” were available through normal gameplay. EA was selling cheats and unlocks that when totaled up cost the same as the retail copy you bought at (insert vendor here).

As I recall, developers can not charge for content that is on the disk UNLESS you can earn it by playing the game. EA has used this loophole countless times before. It has only been magnified by the recent announcement of the Battlefield: Bad Company DLC. You have to a) Buy the “Special Edition” for an extra $10.00 B) Pay for it with Microsoft Points in the Marketplace or C) Play special events held by EA over a course of a couple of weeks.

XBL Radio 64.0 (Water Cooler News)

This week X3R0 and I ramble on about the news this week. Join in as we trounce over topics, going back and forth over the now well traveled road. Although it may be hard to keep track, I’ve compiled a nice little list here to help you follow allong.

Topics include (but not limited to)

EB Games and why Keman is pissed

Halo3 map pack now free, next batch still costs money

DLC and you, what is the limit

Ubisoft and a new name

Check out the newest member of the platformnation.com family

www.gamerhounds.net staring Cooper Hawkes and Gamer Edie.

Don’t for get to leave us some feedback at xblradio@platformnation.com or reviews on iTunes

 

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Cheaters don’t prosper, they get their gamerscore set to 0

It seems as though the number 1 gamerscore whore has been busted for cheating. Part of the Terms of Service for LIVE, you are not allowed to artificially boost your score. This includes using game saves to get achievements. StripclubDJ has had his gamerscore set to 0 and a permanent tag of cheater attached to his gamertag.

This just goes to show that Microsoft will not allow you to take advantage of their system. There has been some uproar in the community about this. Some say it good that Microsoft is punishing them, others say it too harsh and Microsoft should just lighten up.

Personally, I’m with the punish them. Most of us have heard from StripclubDJ in the past, and could have (if he did, I don’t remember) used that extra press from official Microsoft employee’s and features to boost site visits or downloads. This is a good thing; hopefully Microsoft won’t stop with gamerscore hacks, but will soon target the lag switchers and other vagabonds on LIVE.

Source

Kemanswar

COD 4 DLC announced with new SKU

Greetings all, I was up this morning and updating a new RSS reader and found this from Xbox.com and thought I would let you know. It seams Infinity Ward is going to release a Game of the Year edition of COD 4. Shipping on April 1st, will include a token to download the 4 new maps.

Wait, did I just say 4 new maps? Why yes I did. For 800 Microsoft Points you can download the maps on April 3^rd 2008. That is also the “Street Date” for the GOTY edition.

If you don’t believe me, here is the source.

Modern Warfare Variety Map Pack
(800 MS Points)

Published March 19, 2008

Recruits and soldiers alike, get the Battle-Dress Uniforms ready! Activision and Infinity Ward are planning a new offensive with Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare™ Game of the Year Edition. Scheduled for release at all retailers nationwide on April 1, the Game of the Year Edition of Call of Duty 4 includes a token to download the Variety Map Pack, a series of four new multiplayer maps that releases April 3 for Xbox 360®.

Get ready for all-new multiplayer maps.

The Variety Map Pack will also be available for download from Xbox LIVE® Marketplace, giving you multiple ways to experience the newest multiplayer action from the blockbuster hit title.

Map Details

The Variety Map Pack includes four new multiplayer maps. “Creek” is a wide-open village ravaged by combat where concealment is the difference between life and death. In “Broadcast,” fight throughout an enemy communications building with confined corridors and wide-open parking lots. “Chinatown” is a foggy downtown district, lit only by a full moon and the neon glow of the city. “Killhouse” features a desolate training warehouse filled with a variety of building mock-ups and soft and hard cover points.

Variety Map Pack Challenge

As an early sneak peek on March 28, GameStop will host the Variety Map Pack Challenge at two exclusive preview events in New York City and San Jose. Lucky gamers will be among the first in the world to play the new maps on Xbox 360 and meet members of the Infinity Ward team.

The first 100 guests at each location will receive a free token to download the Variety Map Pack upon release, and the first 250 contestants will compete for prizes, including GameStop gift certificates.

Both the Modern Warfare Game of the Year Edition and the new Variety Map Pack download will be available on Thursday, April 3 in the U.S.

The worldwide best-selling game in units of 2007, according to The NPD Group, Chart Track, and The GFK Group, and winner of more than 50 editors’ choice and game of the year honors, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is rated “M” (Mature) by the ESRB for Intense Violence, Strong Language, Blood and Gore.

Don’t say I never told you anything useful.

Keman

XBL Radio 63.0 (X3R0 and Keman take the wheel)

After a bout with the flu here it is folks show 63.0

Join X3R0 9 and Kemanswar while we talk about:

Mircosoft to launch new 360 version, blu-ray included?

Circuit City offering HD DVD trade in deals.

Torque engine upgrade, www.garagegames.com

Bully has issues

More smack talk from Sony

Pioneer ends Kuro line of TV’s

iPhone SDK

Halo 3 updates

Fuzzyeyes announces new title

All this and more as we deliver our thoughts in gaming. Don’t forget to check out this weeks shout out www.gamehounds.net

 

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COD 4 Title Update released

While we have all been playing Call of Duty 4 for some time now. Heck we have even helped keep it in the #1 played games list on Xbox Live for the last 4 weeks, keeping the power house of Halo 3 at a respectable 2nd place. Infinity Ward has release the first update Source. I’m just stoked that I may actually be better at sniper now that the fix is in.

The Update includes: Read the rest of this entry »